Amazing!

Acts 12:1-19a
by Brian Knitter

Never let it be said that the Bible is boring. Today’s passage has death, anxiety and . . . humor!
It looked like Peter would soon be executed, but God wasn’t through with him yet. Check out how God rescued him.

James, son of Zebedee, John’s brother, one of the sons of thunder, a disciple of Jesus, was executed (of the 12, only John dies of old age). Seeing that this execution pleased the Jewish population, King Herod grabbed Peter and put him in jail; fully expecting to execute him after Passover. Things looked bleak for Peter. He was in the inner cell; chained to two guards.

Peter’s friends never gave up on him though. They prayed fervently for a miracle; and that’s just what they got. An angel released Peter from his chains, and allowed him to walk right out of the jail unnoticed. This was so incredible to Peter, that he thought he was dreaming. When he knocked on the door of what probably was a house church, the lady who answered, a servant girl named Rhoda, was so astounded to hear his voice that she ran back into the house without opening up the door! Can you imagine! Peter: on the outside, anxious, knowing that any second he could be grabbed by guards; meanwhile, Rhoda is on the inside jumping up and down, whooping for joy, and disturbing a prayer meeting! It cracks me up. The people on the inside think she’s insane. Meanwhile, Peter, on the outside, is probably not-so-patiently knocking. When the prayer group finally answered the door, they are astounded . . . and loud! Peter had to quiet them down, rejoice with them, and then leave before he was discovered. The next day, no one could find Peter, and the two guards who had been chained to Peter were executed.

God acted in power in this situation, blessing Peter, Rhoda and a prayer group in the process. It also shows that prayer has power. The prayer group acted just as we might today; praying for a miracle to happen, but not really expecting it. Good thing our God is the God of the unexpected. God shows us in this passage that we can expect the unexpected when in prayer. Prayer has power, because God is all-powerful. Check out these promises from God: Matthew 21:22, Mark 11:24.